New Here - What's Your Secret to Netting Fish

Shanae Brines · May 23, 2019

This is only my second post at R2R, but the first seemed helpful. So I'm wondering if anyone has any tricks to netting a fish out of their display tank without having to remove the rock out of the way. I have an angel that's proving smarter than me and will swim at the back of the tank if I'm standing near the tank. It's impossible to catch!! Is there some kind of container I can submerge and wait til it swims into it? Any secrets??

Ruben's Reef · May 23, 2019

I saw that question here a while back and some reefers said that they wait until light is off to get the fish but I never try.

cmcoker · May 23, 2019

There are DIY and commercially made fish traps, some diys include using a pop bottle or forming a box from egg crate.

For fish that will not go into a trap, some people use a tiny fish hook with the barb removed, bait and go fishing

Some have luck turning on the lights when the fish are asleep, and swooping when in when the fish is disoriented.

Crabs McJones · May 23, 2019

Home made fish traps using 2L soda containers work well. In my personal experience i've always found that draining the tank to give them less running room has worked out well. Also doing it at night after the fish becomes more lethargic helps as well

Salty Lemon · May 23, 2019

I recently received some brilliant information on this subject from @Mastiffsrule .

Mastiffsrule said:
I don’t know much about disease but I can tell you 100% how to catch a fish.

It only works for fish that sleep out in the open where you can get to it with a net. I had a 2 inch domino that eluded me for ever until I came across this method, then first attempt bam, in the net.

I waited until they were sleep for a few hours. If you do not have enough ambient light to see him, turn on a light in another room. Just enough for you to barely see him. Get the net ready, no noise, get a flash light aimed at him and turn it on right at his eyes, he will freeze long enough to catch him.

HB AL · May 23, 2019

Set the net on top of the tank for a few days, dont feed them during that time, then get the food ready and quickly scoop em up as the fish come up to eat. Works everytime, you will net others at the same time just pick out the one you dont want in the tank.

Dimmy007 · May 23, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!! Be faster than the fish!!

MnFish1 · May 23, 2019

You can also buy a fish trap - the fish I was trying to get would no go it - I built a cave of rock around it - within 20 minutes it was inside and out of the tank.

The key - put the trap in the tank - keep the door open - feed the fish from the trap for a couple days - until they are comfortable going inside. Then do it with the door (you can use with with home-made traps also).

KJ · May 23, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

blebs · May 23, 2019

100% using some sort of clear plastic that the fish cant see. I've had great success with the DIY soda bottle fish trap. Put delicious fish food in it, laugh when the fish try to eat it from the outside, and snag them when they go in. The hardest part is getting the wrong fish!

Retro Reefer · May 23, 2019

P-Dub · May 23, 2019

Welcome! Some great and proven methods so far.
Make sure to update us with what method worked for you.
Share and Like often!

Eagle_Steve · May 23, 2019

Welcome.

Everything mentioned above can work. If the fish is an aggressive eater, a very small hook works well. If it has a barb, make sure it is crushed down.

sfin52 · May 23, 2019

good luck

jeffchapok · May 23, 2019

Did you see this thread? This is ingenious and wouldn't be hard to make something similar yourself for a few bucks.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=601902&share_fid=1020&share_type=t

cracker · May 23, 2019

Welcome Shanae , I use a fish trap. Iv'e had very good success with it.

WMR · May 23, 2019

Welcome to R2R! All the posts earlier will work, good luck

GoldeneyeRet · May 23, 2019

Welcome to r2r!

Fish trap is your friend

mich2599 · May 23, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

Mastiffsrule · May 23, 2019

Welcome to the group if I have not said so prior. And if I did welcome again!

All the methods above I like, except the hook. I picture myself biting the hook and it would, hurt barb or not. The fish trap is good but too slow for me, I have no patience. Weird I keep a reef tank right?

The light in the eye at night is easy, non invasive- just don’t use a hydra led at 150%. The only down side is if he does not sleep in the open it may not work.

It helped me catch a damsel first try in a 180. Also my Masticus fishicus;Joyful